ALFRETON ENTER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACKWELL MW

ALFRETON ENTER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACKWELL MW

Wednesday Jun 1, 2011

ALFRETON Town have entered into a partnership with near neighbours Blackwell Miners' Welfare Football Club which will see the Reds using the East Midlands Counties League side's Primrose Hill facilities for daytime training in the week.The clubs have signed an initial 12-month agreement and Blackwell will be the beneficiaries of having Alfreton's groundstaff preparing and looking after their playing surface as well as having their other facilities including those of the cricket club developed.Indeed, Alfreton groundsman Rob Brooks has already begun work to prepare the playing surface to be as near as possible to the highly-rated pitch at the Impact Arena.Alfreton will also be using other venues throughout the area but will be training Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's at Blackwell who play their home midweek games on a Wednesday evening.Chairman Wayne Bradley explained: "We have been looking to create a venue which is suitable to all parties and Blackwell is perfect for us. There is plenty of potential for development."We have been speaking to clubs promoted into the Blue Square Bet Premier Division over recent seasons who have found relegation quicker than they really wanted."From our observations, it is obvious that one of the major factors that affect survival at the top level of the Conference is the fitness and preparation of the players."We are in the throes of converting from part-time to full-time and the partnership with Blackwell is one step towards our aims of trying to compete on a level playing field with the established clubs in the top flight."Blackwell treasurer Steve Harris commented: "This is an excellent venture for us both. As well as the pitch being improved, there will also be a couple of 60 x 40-yard training areas created and the whole outfield area will be utilised and developed with improved facilities and standards."